Fertility & birth rates in Japan and New Zealand

Fertility rate in Japan vs New Zealand by year

Chart Table

Japan

New Zealand

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	New Zealand
2023	1.2	1.56
2022	1.26	1.66
2021	1.3	1.64
2020	1.33	1.61
2019	1.36	1.72
2018	1.42	1.71
2017	1.43	1.81
2016	1.44	1.87
2015	1.45	1.99
2014	1.42	1.92
2013	1.43	2.01
2012	1.41	2.1
2011	1.39	2.09
2010	1.39	2.17
2009	1.37	2.13
2008	1.37	2.19
2007	1.34	2.18
2006	1.32	2.01
2005	1.26	1.97
2004	1.29	1.98
2003	1.29	1.93
2002	1.32	1.89
2001	1.33	1.97
2000	1.36	1.98
1999	1.34	1.97
1998	1.38	1.89
1997	1.39	1.96
1996	1.43	1.96
1995	1.42	1.98
1994	1.5	1.98
1993	1.46	2.04
1992	1.5	2.06
1991	1.53	2.09
1990	1.54	2.18
1989	1.57	2.12
1988	1.66	2.1
1987	1.69	2.03
1986	1.72	1.96
1985	1.76	1.93
1984	1.81	1.93
1983	1.8	1.92
1982	1.77	1.95
1981	1.74	2.01
1980	1.75	2.03
1979	1.77	2.12
1978	1.79	2.07
1977	1.8	2.21
1976	1.85	2.27
1975	1.91	2.37
1974	2.05	2.58
1973	2.14	2.76
1972	2.14	3
1971	2.16	3.18
1970	2.13	3.17
1969	2.13	3.28
1968	2.13	3.34
1967	2.23	3.35
1966	1.58	3.41
1965	2.14	3.54
1964	2.05	3.8
1963	2	4.05
1962	1.98	4.19
1961	1.96	4.31
1960	2	4.24

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Japan was 1.2 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.56 in New Zealand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Japan vs New Zealand population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

New Zealand

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	New Zealand
2023	-871,617	18,876
2022	-825,825	20,123
2021	-640,976	23,644
2020	-542,923	24,905
2019	-531,858	25,299
2018	-456,520	24,797
2017	-406,310	26,282
2016	-343,106	28,237
2015	-292,424	29,408
2014	-267,279	26,196
2013	-242,146	29,096
2012	-229,733	31,077
2011	-204,533	31,302
2010	-128,070	35,458
2009	-76,828	33,560
2008	-51,225	35,143
2007	-25,600	35,480
2006	12,785	30,924
2005	-25,554	30,674
2004	76,656	29,634
2003	114,946	28,150
2002	178,423	25,941
2001	203,438	27,939
2000	228,317	29,897
1999	202,610	28,916
1998	265,440	29,146
1997	277,325	30,137
1996	314,392	28,997
1995	276,039	29,828
1994	363,017	30,372
1993	312,073	31,685
1992	360,833	32,067
1991	396,685	33,518
1990	407,478	33,298
1989	467,662	30,749
1988	527,085	29,846
1987	598,138	27,603
1986	631,706	25,549
1985	676,687	24,126
1984	756,523	26,043
1983	775,495	24,315
1982	805,664	24,207
1981	811,861	25,374
1980	864,372	23,658
1979	950,298	26,675
1978	1,011,234	26,156
1977	1,070,397	28,020
1976	1,127,750	29,456
1975	1,204,989	31,355
1974	1,332,960	33,896
1973	1,391,449	35,239
1972	1,372,006	38,244
1971	1,331,782	40,000
1970	1,230,496	37,101
1969	1,195,962	38,098
1968	1,191,930	37,594
1967	1,258,475	37,974
1966	682,072	36,151
1965	1,126,448	36,982
1964	1,046,553	39,375
1963	987,770	42,027
1962	901,864	42,865
1961	893,522	43,482
1960	894,874	41,791

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.7% in Japan and +0.36% in New Zealand.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +0.51% in New Zealand.

Birth rate in Japan vs New Zealand by year

Chart Table

Japan

New Zealand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	New Zealand
2023	6	10.9
2022	6.3	11.5
2021	6.6	11.5
2020	6.8	11.3
2019	7	12
2018	7.4	11.8
2017	7.6	12.4
2016	7.8	12.6
2015	8	13.2
2014	8	12.7
2013	8.2	13.2
2012	8.2	13.9
2011	8.3	14
2010	8.5	14.7
2009	8.5	14.5
2008	8.7	15.1
2007	8.6	15.2
2006	8.7	14.1
2005	8.4	14
2004	8.8	14.2
2003	8.9	13.9
2002	9.2	13.7
2001	9.3	14.4
2000	9.5	14.7
1999	9.4	14.9
1998	9.6	14.5
1997	9.5	15.2
1996	9.7	15.3
1995	9.6	15.7
1994	10	15.8
1993	9.6	16.5
1992	9.8	16.8
1991	9.9	17.1
1990	10	17.9
1989	10.2	17.4
1988	10.8	17.4
1987	11.1	16.7
1986	11.4	16.1
1985	11.9	15.8
1984	12.5	15.9
1983	12.7	15.7
1982	12.8	15.7
1981	13	16.1
1980	13.6	16.1
1979	14.2	16.7
1978	14.9	16.2
1977	15.5	17.2
1976	16.3	17.6
1975	17.1	18.3
1974	18.6	19.5
1973	19.4	20.4
1972	19.3	21.7
1971	19.2	22.5
1970	18.8	22
1969	18.5	22.4
1968	18.6	22.6
1967	19.4	22.4
1966	13.7	22.4
1965	18.6	22.8
1964	17.7	24.1
1963	17.3	25.4
1962	17	26.2
1961	16.9	27
1960	17.2	26.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 10.9 in New Zealand, compared with 17.2 and 26.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

New Zealand

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	New Zealand
2100	11.5%	13.6%
2099	11.5%	13.6%
2098	11.5%	13.6%
2097	11.5%	13.6%
2096	11.6%	13.7%
2095	11.6%	13.7%
2094	11.6%	13.7%
2093	11.7%	13.8%
2092	11.7%	13.8%
2091	11.8%	13.8%
2090	11.8%	13.8%
2089	11.8%	13.8%
2088	11.8%	13.9%
2087	11.9%	13.9%
2086	11.9%	13.9%
2085	11.8%	13.9%
2084	11.8%	13.9%
2083	11.8%	13.9%
2082	11.8%	13.9%
2081	11.7%	13.9%
2080	11.6%	13.9%
2079	11.6%	13.9%
2078	11.5%	13.9%
2077	11.4%	13.9%
2076	11.3%	13.9%
2075	11.2%	13.9%
2074	11.1%	14%
2073	11.1%	14%
2072	11%	14%
2071	10.9%	14.1%
2070	10.9%	14.1%
2069	10.8%	14.1%
2068	10.8%	14.2%
2067	10.8%	14.3%
2066	10.8%	14.3%
2065	10.8%	14.4%
2064	10.8%	14.4%
2063	10.8%	14.5%
2062	10.9%	14.6%
2061	10.9%	14.7%
2060	11%	14.7%
2059	11%	14.8%
2058	11.1%	14.9%
2057	11.1%	15%
2056	11.2%	15%
2055	11.2%	15.1%
2054	11.3%	15.1%
2053	11.3%	15.2%
2052	11.3%	15.2%
2051	11.3%	15.2%
2050	11.2%	15.2%
2049	11.2%	15.2%
2048	11.1%	15.3%
2047	11.1%	15.3%
2046	11%	15.3%
2045	10.9%	15.3%
2044	10.8%	15.3%
2043	10.7%	15.4%
2042	10.6%	15.4%
2041	10.5%	15.5%
2040	10.4%	15.5%
2039	10.3%	15.6%
2038	10.2%	15.7%
2037	10.1%	15.9%
2036	10.1%	16%
2035	10.1%	16.1%
2034	10.1%	16.2%
2033	10.1%	16.4%
2032	10.2%	16.5%
2031	10.3%	16.7%
2030	10.5%	16.9%
2029	10.6%	17.1%
2028	10.8%	17.3%
2027	11%	17.5%
2026	11.1%	17.8%
2025	11.3%	18%
2024	11.4%	18.1%
2023	11.6%	18.4%
2022	11.9%	18.6%
2021	12%	18.9%
2020	12.2%	19%
2019	12.4%	19.2%
2018	12.5%	19.3%
2017	12.6%	19.5%
2016	12.7%	19.6%
2015	12.8%	19.9%
2014	13%	20.2%
2013	13.1%	20.4%
2012	13.2%	20.6%
2011	13.3%	20.8%
2010	13.4%	20.9%
2009	13.5%	20.9%
2008	13.5%	21%
2007	13.6%	21.1%
2006	13.7%	21.3%
2005	13.8%	21.5%
2004	13.8%	21.8%
2003	13.9%	22.1%
2002	14.1%	22.4%
2001	14.2%	22.6%
2000	14.4%	22.8%
1999	14.6%	22.9%
1998	14.8%	23%
1997	15.1%	23%
1996	15.3%	23%
1995	15.6%	23.1%
1994	16%	23.1%
1993	16.4%	23.1%
1992	16.9%	23.1%
1991	17.4%	23.2%
1990	18%	23.3%
1989	18.8%	23.3%
1988	19.5%	23.5%
1987	20.3%	23.8%
1986	21%	24.2%
1985	21.7%	24.6%
1984	22.2%	25.1%
1983	22.6%	25.6%
1982	23.1%	26.2%
1981	23.3%	26.7%
1980	23.4%	27.2%
1979	23.7%	27.8%
1978	23.8%	28.4%
1977	23.9%	29%
1976	23.9%	29.6%
1975	23.8%	30.1%
1974	23.8%	30.5%
1973	23.6%	31%
1972	23.4%	31.4%
1971	23.3%	31.7%
1970	23.3%	31.9%
1969	23.4%	32.2%
1968	23.5%	32.3%
1967	23.8%	32.5%
1966	24.4%	32.6%
1965	25.1%	32.7%
1964	25.8%	32.9%
1963	26.8%	32.9%
1962	28%	33%
1961	29.1%	33%
1960	29.8%	32.8%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 18.1% in New Zealand in 2024, compared to 18% and 23.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and New Zealand compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs New Zealand

Chart Table

Japan

New Zealand

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Japan	New Zealand
2023	3	7
2022	5	23
2021	4	8
2020	4	8
2019	5	8
2018	5	7
2017	5	8
2016	5	8
2015	5	8
2014	5	7
2013	5	8
2012	6	9
2011	6	10
2010	6	10
2009	6	10
2008	6	10
2007	6	10
2006	7	10
2005	7	11
2004	7	11
2003	8	11
2002	8	11
2001	8	10
2000	9	11
1999	9	12
1998	10	12
1997	10	13
1996	11	14
1995	11	14
1994	11	13
1993	12	14
1992	13	15
1991	13	16
1990	14	18
1989	15	18
1988	16	19
1987	17	19
1986	18	18
1985	19	19

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Japan, compared to 7 deaths in New Zealand.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

New Zealand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	New Zealand
2023	0.24%	0.47%
2022	0.24%	0.48%
2021	0.24%	0.49%
2020	0.24%	0.5%
2019	0.25%	0.51%
2018	0.25%	0.52%
2017	0.26%	0.53%
2016	0.27%	0.55%
2015	0.28%	0.56%
2014	0.29%	0.57%
2013	0.3%	0.59%
2012	0.31%	0.6%
2011	0.33%	0.61%
2010	0.33%	0.62%
2009	0.34%	0.63%
2008	0.34%	0.64%
2007	0.35%	0.65%
2006	0.36%	0.65%
2005	0.37%	0.66%
2004	0.39%	0.67%
2003	0.4%	0.69%
2002	0.41%	0.7%
2001	0.43%	0.72%
2000	0.45%	0.74%
1999	0.47%	0.76%
1998	0.5%	0.78%
1997	0.52%	0.81%
1996	0.55%	0.84%
1995	0.57%	0.87%
1994	0.59%	0.91%
1993	0.6%	0.95%
1992	0.61%	1%
1991	0.62%	1.06%
1990	0.63%	1.12%
1989	0.64%	1.18%
1988	0.66%	1.24%
1987	0.68%	1.29%
1986	0.71%	1.34%
1985	0.75%	1.38%
1984	0.79%	1.41%
1983	0.83%	1.45%
1982	0.88%	1.48%
1981	0.93%	1.52%
1980	0.99%	1.56%
1979	1.05%	1.61%
1978	1.11%	1.66%
1977	1.18%	1.71%
1976	1.25%	1.77%
1975	1.33%	1.83%
1974	1.41%	1.88%
1973	1.49%	1.94%
1972	1.57%	1.98%
1971	1.65%	2.03%
1970	1.75%	2.08%
1969	1.85%	2.12%
1968	1.96%	2.16%
1967	2.1%	2.2%
1966	2.26%	2.25%
1965	2.46%	2.31%
1964	2.7%	2.39%
1963	2.98%	2.48%
1962	3.29%	2.58%
1961	3.62%	2.68%
1960	3.97%	2.78%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 0.47% in New Zealand. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.